NFL Playoffs Week 2 Review

[bayala]

Another cracking week of playoff matches! @dangolf18 needs 1 correct tip from the remaining 3 matches to secure the 2019/2020 FOH Tipping comp. 

 

Hot Takes

1. Luke Kuechly 

Kuechly's surprise retirement is a stark reminder of the physical and mental toll this sport takes on it's players. In 8 seasons he assembled a HOF resume:

• 118 Games
• 1,092 Tackles (1st in the NFL)
• 75 TFL 
• 31 QB Hits
• 18 INTs (Most among LBs since drafted)

• 43 Pass breakups (Most among LBs since drafted)
• 12.5 Sacks
• 7 FF, 9 FR, 2 TDs
• 7x Pro Bowler (Tied 1st in the NFL)
• 5 x First Team All-Pro (Tied 1st in the NFL)

• 2 x Second Team All-Pro (Tied 1st in the NFL)
• 2012 DROY, 2013 DPOY

 

2. King keeps rumbling

[Barfield] Derrick Henry's last eight games: 203 carries, 1,273 rushing yards, 6.27 YPC, 11 TDs. Henry has set a new all-time record for most rushing yards in any 8-game stretch in NFL history.

Henry is on a historic run. If he can keep this up I think the Titans can go all the way. 

 

3. Punting wins championships?

3 out of the 4 punters playing on Championship Weekend were in the Top 10 for percentage of Punts inside the 20 during the regular season. #5 Brett Kern 47.4%, #9 Mitch Wishnowsky 44.2%, and #10 Dustin Colquitt 43.8%.

Brett Kern's punting has been instrumental in the Titans' run to Championship weekend. Having to punt a lot is a sign of a bad team but % of punts landed inside 20 is efficient punting. The kind that can be the difference between winning or going home in the playoffs. 

 

4. Baby Gronk

[NFL Research] George Kittle (@gkittle46) needs 26 receiving yards to pass @RobGronkowski (2,986) for most by a TE in his first 3 seasons in NFL history (incl. playoffs). Kittle had 129 yards in Week 12 vs the #Packers, the most GB has allowed to a TE in the last 5 seasons.

If Kittle can stay healthy he looked poised to break all of Gronk's records. Something most people thought would last a lifetime. 

 

5. Not petty

[Wade Phillips] Wade posts his overall defensive rankings per PFF for every year since 2006, with 10 top 10 finishes in that time. Wade: "Thanks PFF"

Plenty of teams will be reaching out to Wade in the offseason.